Combined hinge and latch mounting



April 28, 1953 H. H. COHUN COMBINED HINGE AND LATCH MOUNTING 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed Dec. 14, 1949 IN VEN TOR. flower/2. Z077)? April 28, 1953 H. H. COHUN COMBINED HINGE AND LATCH MOUNTING 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Dec. 14, 1949 INVENTOR. flame/"#6977117? ATTD RN EYS Patented Apr. 28, 1953 COMBINED HINGE AND LATCH MOUNTING Homer H. Cohun, Yuba City, Calif., assignor of ninety per cent to Lloyd Hamner, Bertine L. Hamner, Loyd Mulkey, and Nora L. Mulkey, all

of Yuba City, Calif.

Application December 14, 1949, Serial No. 132,825

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a door mounting, and more particularly to a door mounting which will permit a door to be either swung open from the left or right side.

The object of the invention is to provide a door mounting whereby a door, such as a door for a refrigerator or cabinet, may be swung open from either vertical edge.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door mounting which permits the door to be opened from either side, yet prevents the door from being opened from both sides at the same time, and wherein a means is provided for releasably latching the door in its closed posi tion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a door mounting which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals have been used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a front elevational View showing a cabinet or refrigerator provided with the door mounting of the present invention, the door being in one of its open positions;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational View showing certain constructional details of the door mounting actuating mechanism;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the actuating mechanism;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 2. 1

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral I3 designates a cabinet or refrigerator which is provided with an inner compartment l l for the storage therein of food or other articles. A door I2 is mounted for swinging movement about a vertical axis. The present invention is directed to a mounting for the door l2, whereby the door [2 can be opened from either side of the cabinet Ill. Further, by means of the construction of the present invention, it will be impossible to open the door from both sides at the same time. Also, there is provided a means for maintaining the door releasably latched in its closed position.

The door mounting includes an actuating mechanism which embodies a plate I l that extends transversely across the door I2 and is secured thereto in any suitable manner. Arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to the plate It is an actuating bar I5, and the bar I5 is provided with a slot l6 intermediate its ends for a purpose to be later described. A pin l1 pivotally connects one end of the bar IE to a bell crank l8, and a pin 20 pivotally connects the other end of the bell crank Hi to the lower end of a lock bolt I9. The bell crank I3 is pivotally connected to the plate I4 by means of a pin 2|.

The other end of the bar I5 is pivotally connected to one end of a second bell crank 23 by means of a pin 22, while the other end of the bell crank 23 is pivotally connected to a movable lock bolt 25 by means of apin 24, Figures 1 and 2. A pin 26 pivotally connects the bell crank 23 to the plate It.

Pivotally connected to the plate It is a pair of spaced latches 2! and 28. Thus, a pin 29 serves to pivotally connect the latch 21 to the plate 14, and a similar pin 3!] is provided for pivotally connecting the other latch 28 to the plate [4. Each of the latches 2'! has the same construction and each includes a pointed end 3| that is mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the slots 16 in the actuating bar l5. A coil spring 32 serves to connect the pair of latches 21 and 28 together.

Also pivotally connected to the plate I4 is a pair of pawls 33 and 34. Thus, each of the pawls 33 and 34 is connected to one end of a shaft 35, the shaft 35 being rotatablypositioned in a bearing sleeve 36. A handle 31 is secured or connected to one end of each of the shafts 35 for rotating the shafts to thereby selectively rotate or pivot the pawls 33 and 34. The pawls 33 and 34 are adapted to be pivoted into and'out of engagement with the bell cranks l8 and 23, as later described in this application.

Carried by the pawl 33 is a spring member 38. and by properly rotating the pawl 33, the spring member 38 can be used to move the pointed end 3! of the latch 27 into the slot IS. A similar spring member 33 is secured to the other pawl 3t, whereby upon proper movement of the pawl 34, the spring member 39 will move the latch 28 into the opposite portion or end of the slot Hi. The spring 32 normally serves to urge the latches 21 and 23 out of the slot l6 and into their positions shown in Figure 2. A coil spring All has one of its ends connected to the pawl 33, while the other end of the coil spring 43 is connected to the other pawl 34, the coil spring 40 tending to normally urge the pawls 33 and 34 into their normal positions, as shown in Figure 2.

Projecting inwardly from the bar i5 is a pair of spaced parallel lugs or pins 4| and 42. The lugs 4i and 42 are adapted to be engaged or contacted by the pawls 33 and 34 to limit inward or clockwise pivotal movement of the pawls 33 and 34. Projecting from one end of the plate 54 and secured thereto. is a. pair of. horizontally disposed, spaced' parallelgapertured-fins A3 and 44 which are each provided with an aligned opening 45 for the passage therethrough of the lock.

bolt I9. Arranged in spaced parallel relation below the fin 54 is an additionalfin it which also has an opening that is arranged in registry or alignment with the openingstd The. lock bolt l9 also slidably projects through the guide fin 46 so as to insure that the lock bolt 19 is maintained in alignment during its movement. A guard shield 41 surrounds the movable lock bolt 19 so as to prevent any accidental interference with the moving. parts. A coil spring Q8 has one end connected to the fin it, while the other end of the. coil spring 43 is connected to the bell crank it. The coil spring ti tends to normally urge thelock bolt is into its raised position, as shown in Figure 2.

Secured to the other end of the plate i l is a. similar pair of horizontally. disposed, spaced parallel fins 39 and Each of the. fins 38 and 5a is provided with an aligned opening 5! for the projection therethrough of the locking pin 25. A fin 52is arranged below the fin 59, the fin 52 serving the. same purpose as the other fin 46. A coil spring 53 is provided for normally urging the other locking pin 25 into itsraised position. A guard shield 54 surrounds the locking bolt 25 so asito prevent accidental interference therewith.

Secured to one side of the cabinet I!) is a hinge bracket 55, while arranged in alignment with the hinge bracket 55 and secured to the other side of the cabinet is is a similar hinge r bracket 53. Each of the hinge brackets 56 and 58 includes. a vertically disposed bore 5? for selectively receiving therein the locking bolts and the hingebrackets 55- and 53 are also provided with internal bearings so as to insure the smooth tojbe straddled by the other pair of fins and I it. Arranged below the hinge bracket 55 and secured to the cabinet is is a guide hinge member 58. Secured to the door 42 i an arcuate finger orstrip 59 which is adapted to engage the hinge member 58. Similarly, arranged below the-hinge bracketfifi and secured tothe cabinet isa hinge bracket 58. An arcuate finger or strip ill is secured to the other side. of the door I 2 and the finger is adapted to engage with the hinge member 66. Each of the hinge members 5B and to is of the same construction, and each includes a roller 62 that is adapted to be slidably engaged by the corresponding finger 59 or 8!.

In use, articles of food or other goods can be stored in the compartment H and the door is is normally in its closed position to protect the articles therein. Then, by means of the mounting of the present invention, the door [2 can be swung open about either vertical axis. Thus, for example, to open the door 2 to the position shown in Figure 1, the proper handle 3? is rotated in a counterclockwise direction to thereby pivot the pawl 33 from the position shown in Figure Z to theposition shown in Figure 1. .Asthe pawl 33 moves, it contacts the bell crank l8 to pivot the bell crank l8 in a counterclockwise direction, and this causes the lock bolt 19 to be lowered out of the bore in the hinge bracket 56. Simultaneously, as the pawl 33 is moved, it carries the spring member 38 into, engagement. with the latch 21, whereby the pointed end 3! of the latch 21 is moved into the slot 16 in the bar 15, so as to hold the actuating bar It in its shifted position and also to hold the bolt 19 in its lowered position. Thus, it will be seen that the bolt I9 is nowdepressed or lowered out of the bore in the hinge bracket 55, so that the door [2 can be swung opento the position shown in Figure l. The finger G! is merely arranged in frictional engagement with the roller 62 of the hinge member 69 so that the parts GI and {it can readily separate.

It is to be noted that the strip at and hinge member 53 are now coacting to define the lower portion of the hinge connection between the door l2 and the cabinet it. The upper portion of the hinge is defined by the lock bolt which is slidably arranged in the bore in the hinge mombertil. After the articles have been removed from the compartment H, the door 12 is closed, and the handle is returned to its normal position, whereby the lock bolt ldwill be arranged,or urged into thebore in the hinge bracket to releasably lock the door in its closed position. Similarly, the door l2 can be swung open about the other vertical axis by properly rotating the other handle to thereby rotate the bell crank 23 in a clockwise direction. Thus, this clockwise urge the lock bolts into their raised positions.

The elongated coil spring ill which is connected to the pair of pawls 33 and 36 serves to normally urge the pair of pawls into their normal posi tions, as shown in Figure 2. Further, the coil spring 32 insures that the latches 2i and 23 will unlock both sides at the same time.

drop out of the slot H5 at the proper time.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that a door mounting has been provided whereby a door for a refrigerator or cabinet can be opened from either side, and yet the door will be prevented from being opened from both sides at the same time. for releasably locking the door in its closed position. The door will operate smoothly and efiiciently, and it will be impossible to inadvertently The device issimple and easy to construct and has a minimum of moving parts. The cabinet equipped with the door mounting of the present invention is neat in appearance and the cabinet or refrigerator can be placed in a corner of a kitchen or other confined space whereby the door can be conveniently swung open from either side.

The door mounting further includes a pair of spring blades 65 and 66 which are each secured to the upper portion of the plate 14 by suitable securing elements, such as screws 6'7. The spring blades 65 and 55 are flexible so that as the lock bolts l9 or 25 are moved to their lowermost position by means of the handles, the free end of the spring blades 55 or 68 will move out directly over the lowered lock bolt. These spring blades will thus serve to insure that the lock bolts l9 and 25 do not accidentally move upwardly until the door is closed. When the door is moved to its closed position, the spring blades are forced Further, the mounting includes a means back against the plate l4 so as to permit the proper lock bolt to be raised.

I claim:

1. In a mounting for a swinging door, a plate adapted to extend transversely across the door and be supported thereby, an actuating bar arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to said plate, there being a slot arranged intermediate the ends of said bar, a pair of bell cranks pivotally connected to said plate and interposed between said plate and bar, a pair of pawls pivotally connected to said plate, handles connected one to each of said pawls for rotating the latter, resilient means connecting said pair of pawls together, a pair of spaced latches pivotally connected to said plate and mounted for movement into and out of said slot, resilient means connecting said pair of latches together, spring members one carried by each of said pawls. for causing moving of said latches into said slot, a plurality of spaced parallel horizontally disposed apertured fins secured to one end of said plate,

a plurality of similar fins secured to the other end of said plate, a pair of lock bolts one being slidably arranged in each of said pluralities of apertured fins and pivotally connected to a diiferent one of said bell cranks, resilient means connecting the lowermost of each of said pluralities of fins to the complemental bell crank, and a pair of aligned hinge brackets adapted to be secured one to each of the opposite sides of a cabinet for selectively receiving said locking bolts 2. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein each of said resilient means embodies a coil spring.

HOMER H. CO'HUN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 577,657 Herrmann Feb. 23, 1897 1,654,892 Meyer et a1 Jan. 3, 1928 1,896,203 Rosatelli Feb. 7, 1933 

